MUMBAI: Jagannath Puri, who is one of Telugu cinema’s most successful directors, has shifted base to Mumbai now. In fact his next project in Telugu that goes on the floors in July would be shot entirely in Mumbai.

“It’s a project entitled The Department with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu in the lead. It would be shot entirely in Mumbai, as would be my next Hindi film, the remake of Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi,” Puri tells Businessofcinema.com.

Puri admits that the Big B is addictive. “It is every director’s dream to work with him. But I never knew it would be such an enriching experience. Amitji was right upfront in every department of the film. He helped out with every aspect of the film. I couldn’t speak a word of Hindi. But working with him I’ve picked up the language,” Puri says.

A diehard fan of the Big B, Puri says he stopped seeing the Big B’s film since 1985. “Before that I saw every film of his repeatedly. But after Mard I stopped watching his films…until I saw him in Balki’s Cheeni Kam and Paa.”

Balki, another diehard Bachchan fanatic, cut four “concept” trailers promos of Bbuddah without Puri or the Big B’s knowledge or  consent.

Says Puri, “They’re amazing! Without a single visual from the film Balki has put forward the film’s theme and concept. It is unbelievable. I can’t get over it. All of us belonging to the generation that grew up watching Deewaar, Sholay and Zanjeer are the Big B’s fans.”